Ad Eugipium Presbyterum

The Second Part of the Works of Dionysius Exiguus. Ascetical and Paraenetical Opuscula. Letter to the Presbyter Eugipius, On his translation of the book of Gregory of Nyssa, On the Condition or Making of Man. To the most holy lord and by me most greatly to be venerated sacred Presbyter Eugipius, Dionysius Exiguus. Having complied with the holy zeal of your veneration to the best of my strength, I have translated the book of the blessed Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, On the Condition of Man, from the Greek language, set forth in thirty-one chapters by the same author. In this work, how much difficulty I have experienced will be proven from the reading itself. For, having lingered in many places according to the opinions of the philosophers, he has expressed the rich abundance of his own learning, so that he has omitted almost nothing of those things which have been set forth by those learned and leisured intellects in this part through inextricable questions. Some of their follies he has so destroyed that he almost insinuates to us that saying of the Apostle by which he instructs the faithful: "See that no one deceive you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8). For just as he wisely approves certain correct things which God revealed to them, so he either corrects their perverse opinions, or shows how they are to be avoided by others; except, of course, for a few in which, while vehemently pursuing vices, he has himself (as is wont to happen) also uttered vicious things.

Therefore, having emulated the eloquence of so great a teacher, I have striven indeed to follow his fluency, although I could not attain it with my far too unequal ability. Nevertheless, I have preserved the truth of his opinions according to my modest capacity, knowing that nothing is more excellent than truth. And because there are, as I have said, some things which can rightly be censured, let no reader think that my consent is bound to these; for I have set forth the role of a translator, not approved with the judgment of a censor. Wherefore, with humble devotion and dutiful respect, I beseech that your holiness may receive the fulfillment of my promise with a most grateful mind, and that in whatever matters I may seem to have spoken less elegantly, you may kindly grant forgiveness; because, distracted by the pressure of time from the company of the most learned men, I have not set forth the book with the splendor I ought, which, as it is shown to abound in many virtues, so it appears stained with certain blemishes, as I have often said. Therefore, let your dignity pray for me, that, oppressed by such great difficulties, I may at least rejoice in the breadth of spiritual studies; and that present sorrows may never so prevail as to lead us away from the purpose of future delight. For we derive the greatest solace in this misery if we dwell in continuous meditation on the coming glory. For although one, out of love for heavenly things, may bear with difficulty the discomforts of this pilgrimage, and exclaim with the prophet in sorrow: "Woe is me, that my sojourn is prolonged, I have dwelt with the dwellers of Cedar, my soul has been much a sojourner" (Ps.

Psalm 119:5); and when with the blessed Apostle he confidently declares: "I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ" (Philippians 1:23), yet he is believed not to be exiled far from his homeland, if he always attains his homeland through desire.